MEET THE AUTHORS

BETSY

Hi! I'm Betsy, a junior from Chantilly, Virginia. I'm a History major with minors in Interdisciplinary Social Science and Secondary Education. Two years ago, I briefly visited Madrid. I really enjoyed getting to experience the culture and practice my Spanish skills. I was so excited when I heard there was a program where I could take my education classes and return to beautiful Spain. So far, this has been an amazing experience! I look forward to improving my Spanish skills this semester while living in a picturesque, historic city.

TYLER

Hey guys! My name is Tyler and I am currently a sophomore at JMU! I am a double major in History and English, with a minor in Secondary Education. At JMU, I am also a member of the Marching Royal Dukes and thoroughly enjoy making music. 

I made the decision to come to Salamanca because I thought this would be a one-of-a-kind experience. As an education candidate, there are typically not many internship or study abroad opportunities. However, the JMU College of Education has formed an amazing program here in Spain. I have the chance to take upper level education classes while living in a beautiful country and being immersed in a totally new culture. 

So far, I have been here for about two weeks and have loved just about every second. Feel free to follow me on my journey as an education student studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain! 

MOLLY

Hi, I'm Molly Steadman, a junior from Alexandria, Virginia. I’m a History major and Secondary Ed/ISS minor, so I want to teach social studies at the high or middle school level. I predictably have always had a passion for history, so one of my favorite parts of living in Spain is experiencing its rich history.  

Besides history, I love to cook/bake and experiment in the kitchen. I’m also vegan which may seem difficult in Spain, but I can now say it's not! I will also discuss this more in upcoming posts. I’m really excited to be immersed in Spanish culture, especially through the lens of education this semester! 

PROF. SHOFFNER

Hola, Guten tag, Bonjour, Bună ziua and Hi ya: 

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I'm Dr. Melanie Shoffner, an associate professor of English Education at JMU and program leader in Salamanca.  I've traveled, lived, worked and taught in different countries around the world; this is my first time teaching in Salamanca, however, so I'm a student myself in many ways. While you won't hear much from me on this blog, I'll pop in from time to time with some thoughts on our experiences here, too.